The President of the Reich opened the discussion by declaring to Hitler that he was ready to let the National Socialist Party and their leader Hitler participate in the Reich Government and would welcome their cooperation.
He then put the question to Hitler whether he was prepared to participate in the present government of von Papen. Herr Hitler declared that, for reasons which he had explained in detail to the Reich President that morning, his taking any part in cooperation with the existing government was out of the question.
Considering the importance of the National Socialist movement he must demand the full and complete leadership of government and state for himself and his party. The Reich President in reply said firmly that he must answer this demand with a clear, unyielding No.
He could not justify before God, before his conscience or before the fatherland the transfer of the whole authority of government to a single party, especially to a party that was biased against people who had different views from their own.
There were a number of other reasons against it upon which he did not wish to enlarge in detail, such as fear or increased unrest, the effect on foreign countries, etc. Herr Hitler repeated that any other solution was unacceptable to him. I have had no doubts about your love for the fatherland. I shall intervene sharply against any acts of terrorism or violence such as have been committed by members of the SA sections.
